FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Corporate Communications 214/854-3190   BLOCKBUSTER® LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE GUARANTEE ON AVAILABILITY OF HOT NEW RELEASES   DALLAS, April 21, 1998 - Stopped by the video store lately, all ready to check out a hot new movie, only to find the store out of the movies you want? Not at Blockbuster. Beginning today the video chain is issuing a promise that home movie viewers will find the hottest new releases in stock at participating stores or the rental is free. "This is the boldest guarantee program in the industry," said George Williams, Blockbuster senior vice president of marketing. "Blockbuster's new release program focuses on the movies our customers want the most, while they're still new and in demand." "The guarantee applies to several featured new release titles, all chosen from the most popular box office hits. If a guaranteed title is unavailable, customers receive a 30-day coupon for one free rental of that title. The program is being implemented in all company-owned stores in the United States. According to Williams, the difference in Blockbuster's program is the strength of the titles the national chain is able to guarantee. The featured titles for the first week of the program include "The Full Monty," "I Know What You Did Last Summer," "In & Out," "Kiss the Girls," "The Peacemaker" and "Flubber." The New Releases Guarantee is part of Blockbuster response to customers' requests for more copies of new releases. The stores also are offering incentives for customers to return selected new releases before 8 p.m. the following evening. "We've increased the copies of new releases overall, not just the titles featured in the guarantee program," said Williams. "This increased depth, as well as the early return incentive, has made a significant difference in the availability of new releases in our stores." As an additional benefit for Blockbuster members, the chain also is offering more competitive pricing and increased rental terms on all Blockbuster Favorites. The company tested several guaranteed new release programs in local markets during the development of the national program. The programs ranged from guaranteeing all new releases to a few selected titles, and the company recently guaranteed national availability of "The Full Monty." The test programs were popular with customers -- whose number one request is more copies of new releases -- prompting Blockbuster to take the guarantee nationwide. Blockbuster Entertainment operates approximately 6,000 Blockbuster Video and 400 Blockbuster Music neighborhood entertainment stores in the United States, its territories and 26 other countries and may be accessed internationally at www. blockbuster.com. Blockbuster is a unit of Viacom Inc., one of the world's largest entertainment and publishing companies and a leading force in nearly every segment of the international media marketplace. ### |  Current Releases   |  Archives   | BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster Entertainment Inc. © 1998 Blockbuster Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.